Stream of Passion – Darker Days

Releasedate: 24-06-2011; Label: Napalm Records
By: Lara Cappelli

Stream of Passion is a symphonic metal band formed by the Dutch musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen and the Mexican singer and violinist Marcela Bovio in 2005. Since then, the band has released three albums; Darker Days is their latest one.

Symphonic metal has doubtlessly been well represented by Stream of Passion through their past releases. The band does have a noteworthy vocalist, Marcela Bovio, as well as some interesting orchestral lines and melodies, which are generally the necessary requirements needed to be put into that genre. Darker Days proposal gets more interesting though, considering it passes through an overcrowded genre, still managing to reach a voice of its own. As a matter of fact, the album finally shows the ultimate connection that links the name of the band with their music: passion. Passion is what the whole album is about, is what the listener ultimately collects from the listening’s of it. The involvement of the musicians in the music itself is such that one might find it really easy to be carried away by it and eventually be part of it as well. Also, it’s remarkable how the band never gives anything for granted and cures every detail of their music. The most evident show of it are the hinged orchestral lines, probably made possible by Marcela’s skills at the violin, that add a regal flavour to the whole listening. Darker Days has finally laid the foundations for Stream of Passion, that now have what they need to become one of the most important names of symphonic metal.

Line Up:
Marcela Bovio – Vocals, Violin
Stephan Schultz – Guitars
Eric Hazebroek – Guitars
Johan van Stratum – Bass
Jeffrey Revet – Keyboards
Martijn Peters – Drums